Council decisions illogical

Yesterday the
Auckland Council voted not to support a Convention Centre at
Sky Centre – on the grounds that the additional gambling
facilities would be expanded to a level which would bring
misery to millions of Aucklanders, and presumably to the
hundreds of thousands of overseas visitors.

And many of
those visitors would very likely find it convenient to use
the underground rail system which the Council is committed
to paying half the cost, that share being upwards of $1.5
billion.

Council does not know how it will fund that cost
– but surely it must be necessary to maximise income to
the rail system by seizing every opportunity to encourage
increased passenger usage – like Convention Centre
events.

Of course there is a potential gambling addiction
problem – for a very small percentage of total
visitors.

All progress usually disadvantages some people,
but in this case the chance to have a new Convention Centre
at no cost to ratepayers must surely be grabbed with both
hands,

A second decision by the Council yesterday was to
essentially give away the $30 million likely proceeds from
the sale of publicly owned surplus land.

The money will go
to a South Auckland Trust which wants to build a white-water
adventure feature next to the Pacific Event Centre at
Manukau. Visitors to that feature will be required to pay an
entrance fee.

Surely Council needs to be applying funds
from this asset sale to help pay for new assets – such as
the Central rail Loop, which is currently to be funded
largely from rates.

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